VAT is charged on every taxable supply of goods or services, that is on every supply of goods or services made within the Republic, by a taxable person in the course or furtherance of any business carried on by him, other than a supply exempted in accordance with the provisions of the Law. Additionally, VAT is charged on the importation of goods into the Republic and on the acquisition of goods from other member states. VAT is an indirect form of taxation intended toburdenconsumption expenditure. It is an indirect tax because the trader / taxable person acts as an agent of the VAT Service, collecting VAT from customers / consumers on its behalf and returning the tax to the Republic. VAT is imposed on supplies and collected at every stage of the production, transportation and distribution of goods and services.